Folding easel



Feb. 21, 1928.

F. M. THORPE FOLDING EASEL Filed Aug. 10. 1925 Patented Feb. 21, 1928. v

I U ITED- STATES 1,659,791 PATENT OFFICE.

mam: mnonrnor LA AnnIssounr.

nominee, EAsnL.

Application filed Angust 1'0, '1'925i- Seri'a1' No. 49,297.

This invention relates to easels and more "especially to easels for the display of wreaths made up of flowers, and the like, and my primary object is to produce an easel which, when carrying a wreath, can be folded transversely so that it shall, thus folded approximate in length and width, the diameter of the wreath. In this reduced size, it permits of temporary storage and transportation of wreathsto advantage, in that space is conserved and flowers in the wreath are better protected.

Another object is to produce a wire easel of the type suggested which can be. made at a cost but little in excess of'the common wire easel of the same size.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and

in order that it maybe fully understood 7 reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in Wl11Cl1Z Figure 1 1s a perspective new of an easel embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a front View of the easel when folded.

Figure 3 is a side view of the easel when almost completely folded in full lines and almost completely unfolded in-dotted lines.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the easel is shown as consisting of a member composed of two sections, pivoted together so as to permit of reduction in size by folding action, as contrasted with the customary type in which there is a single non-foldable member corresponding in size to the two section type when the latter is in unfolded or operative condition. The lower section is of inverted U-form, and consists of a crosspiece 1 and two downwardly-diverging legs 2 connected by a brace 3 and also, if desired, by a plate as at 4, to bear the name of the manufacturer or other matter.

The upper member is of resilient material and of inverted V-form, and its sides 5 preferably conform to the angle of the legs 2 so as to appear as a continuation of the latter when the easel is ready for use. The sides 5 are formed at their lower ends with coils 6 pivotally engaging the cross-piece 1, and with spring extensions 7 below the (30115. Said extensions diverge downwardly slightly more than the sides and overlap the legs 2 and terminate in outwardly-opening hooks 8 engaging the legs 2 and thereby securing the upper member in upright or operative position. Inward pressure applied by hand on the extensions-'7 of sides 5, effects disengagement of the hooks from the legs 2, to permitthe upper section to swing back until arrested by contact with the cross brace 3. In the reverse movement of the upper section to restore it to upright or operative position, the extensions 7 of the sides 5, due to their greater degree of angularity than that which exists between legs 2, are forced inward by said legs until free to react and engage their hooks with the legs and be locked thereby insuch position.

To support the easel in upright position the customary folding leg 9 is pivoted to cross-piece 1, and a V-shaped brace 10 is pivoted at its ends to cross-brace 3 and is provided with an eye '11 slidably'engaged with the folding leg.

When the easel is unfolded the eye end of brace 10 ispushed downward upon the folding leg to brace the same against collapse, the said eye end of the brace being slid upward toward the cross-piece 1 to cause the folding leg to be swung forward preliminary to the folding of the upper section.

In practice, a wreath or the like is wired or otherwise attached to the front side of the upper section, and if it is designed for shipment, the said section is folded as indicated by Figures 2 and 3, so that it can be placed in a relatively small box, as such a box saves space and affords better )rotection to the wreath than a larger box 0 the same material.

From the above description, it will be ap parent that I have produced a device which possesses all of the features of advantage pointed out as desirable, and while I have described and claimed the preferred embodiment of the same, I reserve the right to make all changes properly falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is:

1. An easel comprising an inverted U- shaped section and a pivoted leg to brace said section in upright position on a suitable support, and an upper section pivoted on the.

on the lower section and capable of folding against the back of the same, the'upper section having depending resilient extensions overlapping the sides of the lower section and. terminating in outwardly-facing hooks engaging the lower section and locking the upper section against movement in either direction. 4

3.1m easel comprising an inverted U- shaped section and a pivoted leg to brace said section in upright positionon a suitable support, and an upper section ivoted on the lower section and capable of 'olding against the back of the same, the said upper section having depending resilient extensions disposed for repression by contact with the sides of the lower section in the unfolding operation and terminating in open hooks'engaging the lower section and locking the upper section against movement in eitherdirection. i

In witness whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

FRANK M. THORPE. 

